Michael A. Baston is the fifth president of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a national thought leader on the role of community colleges in shaping educational success; supporting regional workforce needs and economic growth; championing diversity, equity, and inclusion reforms; and developing executive leadership teams. As Tri-C president, Baston focuses on strengthening the College’s nearly 60-year mission of providing high-quality, affordable, accessible education and services. Since becoming president in July 2022, he has promoted access and success for the 41,000 credit and noncredit students attending Tri-C’s four campuses and other locations throughout the Cleveland area. Leadership and Honors As a national Guided Pathways and Equity Transfer Initiative coach for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Baston is noted for his work with leadership teams at two- and four-year colleges across the nation, helping them integrate student success initiatives to advance college completion and labor market entry success. Among many other professional honors and activities, Baston is co-chair of Jobs For the Future’s Policy Leadership Trust and a member of the AACC Board of Directors Executive Board, chairing its Audit and Finance Committee. He received the National Council on Student Development’s Terry O’Banion Gold Prize in 2015 and the NAACP Community Leadership Award in 2010. Career Before leading Ohio’s largest community college, Baston served as president of Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York. During his tenure (2017-2022), he led numerous initiatives to spur growth and increase educational pathways. Under his guidance, the college launched a new hospitality and culinary arts center; developed career and English skills academies to address middle-skill workforce needs; and significantly increased grants, capital, and other funding. Before joining Rockland Community College, Baston was vice president of student affairs and associate provost at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, New York. Baston began his career as an attorney representing various educational institutions and social justice organizations. His work with academic clients led him to pursue a second career in academics, both as a professor of legal studies and business and as a student affairs administrator. Education Baston holds a B.A. from Iona College, a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, and an Ed.D. from St. John Fisher College.